Bastiaan jan van der stigchel



June 17, 1924;

B. J. VAN DER STIGCHEL ELECTRIC LIGHTER Filed Aug. 25-

I} I i I 6 Patented June 17, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC LIGHTER.

Application filed August 25, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. BASTIAAN JAN van DER STicoHnL, a citizen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, residing at The Hague, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Electric Lighters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is an electric lighter in which between a fixed and a vibrant contact member, being surrounded by a tubular casing, sparks to tire gas are produced by striking the casing.

A similar lighter is known from the German Patent 331689. in which the movable contact member is provided in the center with an induction-coil. the member being very heavy and rigid.

According to the invention one of the contact-members is formed by a metal body acting like a hammer, being fixed at one end of a spiral spring, the latter being connected at the other end to the lower part of the apparatus.

The outer contact member according to the invention preferably consists of a spirally wound wire assuring at every moment an effective contact.

To increase the vibrations the insulating casing may be provided with a rubber-ring or the like.

In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into eflect, reference be made to the accompanying drawing showing a vertical section of the apparatus.

A vibrant member 1 acting like a hammer is connected to one end of a spiral spring 2 and forms one pole of an electric contact, whilst the contact-body forming the other pole consists of a spirally wound wire 4 surrounding the vibrant member. The vibrant member 1 and the surrounding contact-body 4 as well as the spring 2 are fixed into a base 5 of insulating material, in which the same are connected to the electric wires 6, 7. The contact-members are arranged within a tubular casing 8, the inner side of which for instance may be formed by an insulating material 9 and the outer side by a copper sheet 10. This tube 8 carries on the level with the contact-members 4 a rubber-ring 3. A cover 11 of insulating material protects the connection- Serial No. 584,356.

contacts of the wires 6 and 7. is carried by form. The the sparks are formed in order to bring same into contact with the gas.

The lighter can be connected to a feeble current line or to an electric lighting-circuit by means of a plug-contact and a series resistance, for instance an electric incandescent lamp of 10 standard candles. The spiral spring 2 is such that in position of rest the vibrant contact-member is always out of contact with the other pole 4, but after being brought into vibration by striking the tube 8 or by striking the lighter with the rubber-ring on a body, the vibrant contact member alternately comes into con tact and out of contact with the spiral 4. In this way sparks are produced.

By the weight of the vibrant member 1 a sufficient strong surface pressure is obtained and even when the variable contacts are filthy, the closing of the circuit takes place in a quick and effective way.

It is obvious that the lighter can also be permanently connected to a gas-cooker close to the opening of the outflow of the gas.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I claim is:

1. In an electric lighter, a base, a contact member a portion of which is of coil formation, a relatively heavy second hammer acting contact member extending through said coil, the diameter of said coil exceeding that of the second contact member, and a conductor forming an extension of the first contact member and extending through said base, the second contact member being relatively heavy, a second conductor also extending through said base, and a coil spring forming part of said second conductor and supporting said relatively heavy second contact member so as to adapt the same for lateral swinging movement.

2. In an electric lighter, a base, a contact member, a coil spring support for said con tact member arranged axially in line therewith and forming part of a conductor ex tending through said base, a second contact member the upper portion of which is formed into a coil and through which the first named contact member extends, the

The whole a handle 12 of an appropriate tube 8 is open at the end where diameter of said coil exceeding that of the In testimony whereof, I have signed my first named contact member, and a conname to this specification in the presence of 1 dUCtOl forming an extension of the second tWo subscribing Witnesses. contactme nber and also extending th 'ough BAsTlAAN MN van def Isaiah 5 said base, a tubular casing extending from said base and in Which said contact mem- Witnesses: bers are arrangedand a resilient ring ex- H. VVERKER, tending around said casing. T. V. LEEMENY. 

